Articles filed under Safety from New York

I write here a cautionary warning for those who may mistakenly think that today’s wind energy is that quaint throwback to olden days. Old –fashioned windmills were not connected with miles and miles of high voltage underground and overhead wires. If your rural community is presently under siege by a mega-billion industrial scale wind turbine developer, Buyer beware. (Editor's note: The incident described in this piece involving the turbine failure occurred the week of August 27, 2018)

Legislators from the north country must join forces to see that the radar systems at Fort Drum and in Montague are shielded from interference caused by wind turbines. Taxpayers should not subsidize industries that wreak havoc on something so critical to our national security and regional economy, and our representatives need to move on this right away.

According to Ms. Jenne, she is standing alone against the onslaught of wind projects threatening Fort Drum. ...“This is going to be a difficult issue because the wind lobby has a lot of muscle,” she said. “I’m willing to stand up by myself and do what’s right ... but it’s difficult when the other house won’t even introduce the bill.”

Fort Drum officials stated last month that the facility is already feeling the impact of existing industrial wind turbines, and if the proposed projects are approved, Fort Drum's mission readiness will be further diminished.

The new language also gives a more formal definition for “adverse impact on military operations and readiness” to cover flight operations, research, development, testing, evaluation and training, and defines other terms related to the evaluation process.

Among the recommendations in the 118-page report was for military officials to identify areas where wind turbines could pose a threat, to create a Regional Wind Energy Policy Steering Group to raise awareness of potential projects, to become an “Interested Party” on the state Siting Board and to coordinate with wind developers to create agreements supporting both new projects and military missions.

“With approximately 10 new wind farms proposed or under construction around Fort Drum, their impact on training operations that translates to troop readiness and future mission readiness cannot be ignored,” she said. “This important national defense asset cannot be taken for granted."

A document from the Niagara County Legislature dated Aug. 1 states that Apex Clean Energy’s plans to erect up to 70 new wind turbines, “could interfere with flight and radar operations and constitute an encroachment to base operations.”

Save Ontario Shores, the grassroots organization fighting the possible siting of an industrial-scale wind farm near the Lake Ontario shoreline in the Barker-Lyndonville area, has paid for two billboards near Niagara Falls Boulevard and Walmore Road to support its cause.

“The National Weather Service uses that radar to issue any type of hazardous weather watches or warnings in (the Fort Drum) area,” she said, adding that the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Air Force also use the Montague radar station. The National Weather Service is also concerned that the proposed Deer River and Roaring Brook wind farms in Lewis County, which are also owned by Avangrid Renewables, would have the same impact on the Montague radar, Ms. Schultz said.

Somerset Town Supervisor Dan Engert said, “Senator Ortt has introduced legislation that will remove the possibility of any unintended impacts caused by industrial wind turbines on any military mission of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station and it will put an end to this ill-conceived project and any other in Somerset.

The combination of a federal push for big industrial wind projects, the New York State mandates for 50 percent renewables by 2030 and tax incentives, tax subsidies and other financial carrots have created a strong corporate drive for industrial wind projects all over rural New York.

Congressman Collins introduced the “Protection of Military Airfields from Wind Turbine Encroachment Act” in an effort to ensure that any new wind turbines located within a 40-mile radius of a military installation will be deemed ineligible for renewable energy tax credits. Full text of the legislation can be read here. A companion bill was introduced in the United States Senate by Senator John Cornyn, R-TX.

Because the turbines go so high into the air, they are prone to lightning strikes, but the structures are built with a special grounding system, so that if they are struck by lightning, the lightning goes into the ground without harm to the unit.
But it doesn't always work, as seen by the damage to the turbine in Fairfield.

Are we to believe those who are looking to profit from a project that may very well pose an encroachment risk to NFARS? Are we willing to risk 3,000 well-paying jobs in Western New York based on informal letters of support for this destructive project?

LOCKPORT – A retired Air Force colonel now working on behalf of Apex Clean Energy has tried to convince supporters of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station that the company’s planned wind turbine development won’t interfere with air base operations.

Though its radar technology can mitigate some of the turbines’ effects, the post said it is not a complete solution. The post currently has routine aviation training take place in the areas around Clayton and Henderson, where turbines are being considered. Existing windmills at the Maple Ridge farm in Lewis County have caused some adjustments to its radar, the post said.

New York State can’t allow the installation of these wind turbines to threaten Air Force pilot safety, and Cuomo can’t run the risk of giving the base closing commission any reason to shut down NFARS. Lives are at risk; jobs are at risk; the future of the air base is at risk.

There were two big booms when it happened, one when it hit and then another when it probably flipped over,” said Fenner resident Dick Foringer, who lives about 900 feet away. ...Editor's note: Mr. Foringer confirmed by phone that the initial impact crater was 323 feet from the base of the turbine. The blade then bounced, and ultimately landed 471 feet from the base.

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